 |
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Livable Seattle: Welcome homes
Since before the Seahawks' Qwest Field was built, there have been plans to use the north parking lot for mixed-use residential and retail space. So the plan announced Monday to do just that should come as no surprise.
Nor should it come as any surprise that the move will face fierce resistance from those who produce the boat, home, auto and RV shows and now use the property as a staging area for those productions.
But the plan to use the north lot for mixed-use development has been around since a 1998 agreement among the city, the State Department of Transportation, Seahawks ownership, King County and the Public Stadium Authority.
The proposal unveiled Monday by the partnership of developers Nitze-Stagen, Opus Northwest and the Seattle Housing Authority seems to fit the long-held vision for the property.
It's not the first plan floated for the property, and it's too early to tell if this is the right one.
A key to a livable downtown is having people live in it. The proposed project would tuck nearly 1,000 new residences into the stadium, Pioneer Square and International District area, close to transit, ferries and the train station. Of those new residences, 140 would be affordable apartments, something sorely needed in the city.
The exhibitions are important, and the city and county should do what's reasonable to accommodate them. But occasional exhibitions can't contribute to the construction of a city's soul the way encouraging people to reside in that soul can.
Tell us what's on your mind.
 | |
| Do you think downtown Seattle will be a family-friendly place to live? | |
 20.7%Absolutely, getting more so every day |
16.4% Could be better |
| 25.9% No way, it's unsafe |
33.4% I can't afford to even think about that option |
| 3.5% Don't know or none of the above |
|
| Total Votes: 347 | |
My web site
My Yahoo!
Google
· Luring teens away from prostitution
· Chattering class considers Powell's endorsement
· Editorial Commentary: America's crumbling infrastructure requires a bold look ahead
· Come to D.C. and wreck your car
· Obama starts moving to the middle
· How military honors the fallen
· A question of McCain's experience
more· July 4 weekend: Vets, Teenage prostitution and Viaduct; Growing reader tread on Sonics
· **Afternoon Snark; Sonics decision; Foster care and Iraqi vets; Reader comments on economy, big oil
· Trillion dollar election; Seattle's condos and megahomes and Veggies. Plus reader comments: Iraq war, Steinbrueck Park
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
